Orcas battle sperm whales in cetacean battle royal

These mighty opponents could take on megashark and crocasaurus – and unlike those fictional undersea combatants, their battle is real.

In the coastal waters around Sri Lanka, the waters churn and froth as a pod of killer whales ambushes another of sperm whales – the first time such a battle has been seen in the Indian Ocean. Like a pack of wolves, the marine mammals prowl the ocean in gangs and launch coordinated attacks on other whales and sharks.

The orcas break away for round two. Sperm whales are not usually on their menu because of their giant size and powerful tails that can deal deadly blows. But this time, it appears the orca pack was after a smaller juvenile whale.

These underwater images were captured by Shawn Heinrichs after he leaped from a boat into the heart of the action. "I realised this was a once-in-a-life time opportunity and summoned up the courage to jump in the water and join the frenzy," he says.

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